The government has called for increased investment in high-rise buildings as Malawi faces growing pressure on land in its urban areas.
Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development Chimwemwe Chipungu made the call on Tuesday during an inspection of the construction of the new Ryalls Hotel at Lilongwe Golf Club.
Chipungu said Malawi needs to move away from heavy reliance on horizontal expansion as urban populations continue to grow while available land remains limited.
“The population is increasing, but the land size remains the same. Therefore, building upwards, what we commonly refer to as high-rise structures, is the way forward for sustainable urban development,” he said.
He said the government is promoting sectional titles to encourage investors and property owners to make better use of limited urban land through vertical development.
“To investors, my message is clear: proper and efficient use of land is key. We are now promoting sectional titles to encourage people to maximize limited land through vertical development,” Chipungu said.
The minister said high-rise developments will also support orderly urban development and contribute to the beautification of cities.
He, however, stressed the need for proper planning and infrastructure to support such developments.
Chipungu said government is working with relevant authorities to address traffic congestion around the new hotel.
“Nico Group has indicated that it is considering constructing a four-lane road linking the area to the city centre to improve movement and access.
Meanwhile, ERIS Washington Chimuzu, chief executive officer of Nico Group’s properties, said construction of the hotel is about 93 percent complete.
The four-star hotel will have 108 rooms and will operate under the Marriott brand.
The project employed about 800 people at the height of construction, while about 400 workers are currently on site as construction nears completion.
